Photos: HSTAMIDS -- A Major Breakthrough in Landmine Clearance

The top image shows the HSTAMIDS in its deployed configuration. The bottom left image shows it in the folded position, and the bottom right image shows how HSTAMIDS, which weighs no more than the average metal detectors in wide use, can easily fit into a back pack or ruck sack for ease of portability in the field. [CREDIT: L-3 CyTerra.]

A Cambodian deminer employed by The HALO Trust uses a U.S. Department of Defense-developed HSTAMIDS detector in a mine field in Banteay Meanrit. This mine field is part of the giant K-5 mine belt, which runs along Cambodia’s entire border with Thailand. The HALO Trust, a non-governmental organization based in the United Kingdom that specializes in the removal of war debris, was a key cooperating partner with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program, during field trials in Thailand and Afghanistan. The deminer in the foreground as well as the deminer in the rear, who is carefully probing the ground where the HSTAMIDS already located a landmine, are wearing protective vests and visors, in accordance with International Mine Action Standards.  [CREDIT: Humanitarian Demining R&D Program, U.S. Department of Defense.] 

The training session shown in this photograph was conducted at a special HSTAMIDS training facility in Thailand. The United States also funded the construction of permanent, dedicated facilities such as this in Afghanistan and Cambodia. Thai, Afghan, and Cambodian deminers employed by the Thailand Mine Action Center (TMAC) and The HALO Trust, are trained to use the HSTAMIDS detector by skilled instructors from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program. The program is managed by the U.S. Army’s Night Vision & Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD).[CREDIT: Humanitarian Demining R&D Program, U.S. Department of Defense.]

Afghan deminers familiarize themselves with the HSTAMIDS on a training lane at the Bagram base. During actual demining, the HD-HSTAMIDS operator would wear personal protective equipment and would maintain minimum safety distances between personnel. [CREDIT: Humanitarian Demining R&D Program, U.S. Department of Defense.]